DCSDTechnology

Rewards For Trying Something New

Apple Teacher image and link

Apple teacher is a free program that will help you improve your skills with a mac. Tom and I have both become Apple Teachers. We enjoyed learning new things about programs like iMovie, Numbers, Pages, and much more. The program is setup with eight classes. You read and create a project. The project has step by step directions. When you have finished the project and reading there is a simple 5 question quiz. The quizzes are fairly easy if you have paid attention as you went through the material. ​When you have completed the entire course you then have the right to post that you are an apple teacher. However the true reward is the skills you will have developed. So, if you are looking for something you could do this summer. Why not give Apple Teacher a try.

Google Sites

The new Google Sites makes it easy to quickly and easily build a website for your classroom, group, club, or team. Websites make it easy to publish important dates, provide access to important materials, and communicate. Making a website can sound like a daunting task, but google sites makes the process pain free. As a teacher and trainer I have used Google Sites to create and maintain my class website as well as for trainings. It's easy to add or change content. Adding announcements, calendars, online textbooks, or links to helpful videos is a snap, and if you don't like google's ready made themes you can create your own. Watch the videos below to learn more about the new Google Sites!

EarSketch

This is an amazing tool to use to teach students the world of coding while still making it fun. Teaching coding can often be very challenging and boring to your students. EarSketch allows you to connect coding to music theory and composition. By using simple coding lines and phrases, students can make musical masterpieces. Often things that if you did not know music, you would not be able to just make up. Earsketch even has its own curriculum for students self-paced learning. Watch the three videos about Earsketch by clicking on the links below: On the top is a TED talk about Earsketch. The center is a video demo of how to use Earsketch. Lastly, the bottom is a video of Earsketch being used for a coding camp.1. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lbIh6yngKHo2. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JqkWljZ3EW03. ​https://vimeo.com/174583331